Fresh Intel: The Weekly Roundup
Weekly News Roundup submitted by Ron DeLord
News and commentary impacting police, deputies, corrections, fire, emergency services and public employees throughout the United States. You can access the full article by clicking on the link. Articles are archived on my web page for those searching for information on a particular topic. The posting of an article does NOT reflect my opinion.
Find more police, fire, and public employee labor news from Ron on Twitter @RonDeLord
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Union Wins Round Against City, Scully Vows Appeal
SAN ANTONIO — The city of San Antonio has lost the first round of its legal battles against the police and fire labor unions Monday when visiting Judge Martha Tanner rejected its arguments that a portion of its contracts with the unions are unconstitutional. In separate lawsuits, the city had argued that the so-called “evergreen clause” violated the Texas Constitution.
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Black Lives Matter Takes Aim at Police Union Contracts
When activists associated with Black Lives Matter launched Campaign Zero in September, many policy experts remarked favorably on the policing reforms it encompassed: Now Campaign Zero has announced a similarly impressive effort to clarify its call for “fair police union contracts.” Its activists researched union-negotiated labor agreements in many jurisdictions and flagged the most damaging provisions.
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Proposal Would Allow PA Lawmakers to Nullify Labor Contracts
Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration might negotiate labor contracts, but a new proposal could give Pennsylvania lawmakers some options. State Rep. Garth Everett, R-Lycoming, has floated a three-point plan that would give lawmakers greater oversight over labor deals struck between the governor and public-sector unions.
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RCMP One Step Closer to Collective Bargaining Rights
Mounties will soon be one step closer to having the right to collective bargaining. The RCMP is the only police service in Canada without that right or the freedom to unionize. But today, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told the House of Commons the government is preparing to set out a new labor relations regime for the force
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Which Cities Erase Police Complaints as a Matter of Policy?
There are the three acts to the drama that plays out when a police department gets exposed for excessive abuse of powers:
Act One: Major law enforcement official gets fired/ousted;
Act Two: Task force is created to study police practices and make recommendations for improvement;
Act Three: Police department selects a couple of recommendations it can live with (Chief Diversity Officer! Yes!) and goes back to business.
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San Jose Reaches Measure B Deal with Unions
City officials Friday announced tentative settlements on Measure B pension reforms with eight unions, bringing San Jose closer to replacing the controversial measure voters approved in 2012 that slowed the growth in retirement costs but launched a lengthy legal battle and employee exodus. READ MORE
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Pittsburgh Police Union Files Civil Rights Grievance Over Officer Drug, Alcohol Testing
The union representing Pittsburgh police officers has filed a civil rights grievance against the city, claiming officers have been ordered to undergo drug and alcohol testing that is in violation of their contract. READ MORE
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Recent Prison Guard Case Frees Employers from Meal Period Uncertainty
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has provided some certainty to Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware employers as to when employees’ meal breaks can be uncompensated and when they must be paid. In a split decision that comes as a victory for employers throughout the Third Circuit, the court held in Babcock v. Butler County that corrections officers (COs) at Butler County Prison need not be paid for any portion of their one-hour meal breaks, because the time at issue is predominantly for the employees’ benefit.
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Mobile Mayor Wants Consultant to Analyze City’s Low Police Wages
A third-party consultant will be hired soon to examine ways to make Mobile’s historically low police salaries more competitive, Mayor Sandy Stimpson said Tuesday. Stimpson, speaking during the council meeting, said salaries throughout the city will be examined to see where “proper adjustments” are needed.
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Can San Jose Move Past Pension Measure’s Toxic Fallout?
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo has confirmed to Capital & Main that his city is nearing a settlement with its nine non-safety unions over a contentious pension-cutting law that resulted in an exodus of public employees, followed by costly legal actions. Measure B, passed in 2012, sought to reduce pensions for new hires, eliminate extra “bonus” checks to retirees and make it harder to qualify for disability retirement. It also called for veteran workers to either pay much more for their pensions or switch to a pension with reduced benefits.
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Minnesota Police Union Calls Out Public Employee Union’s Support of Protestors
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — St. Paul police union officials this week criticized the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3800 for its support of protesters condemning the shooting death of 24-year-old Jamar Clark by Minneapolis police, calling it “so biased and ignorant — it is useless to even debate.”
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City of Detroit Proposes Plan to Increase Pay of Sworn Police Officers by 4% in January
DETROIT (WXYZ) – Detroit city officials and police union presidents have reached a tentative agreement that would allow for a 4 percent increase in pay for all sworn police officers in January 2016. Starting pay for a Detroit Police officer $31,700. The increase would take the annual salary to $36,000.
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S. Tucson Police, Fire Pensions in Dire Shape
South Tucson’s pension system for police officers and firefighters is breaking under the weight of dwindling assets and the ever-increasing cost of benefits. The strain of keeping its financial promise to retirees or their surviving spouses is costing the 1.2-square-mile city an estimated $520,000 a year, with pensioners outnumbering employees paying into the retirement programs.
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Council May Consider Scaling Back Pension Cuty
After a tide of departures in the town’s police and Fire-Rescue departments, the Town Council may consider reversing cuts to pension benefits. A council committee has asked staff members and financial advisers to look at the financial impact of dropping an unpopular “hybrid plan,” which was enacted in 2012.
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Battle Over Memphis Police Association President
A battle over the head of the Memphis Police Association. The new chairman of the city council says he ought to be fired. And incoming Mayor Jim Strickland says relations between his administration and the union will be based on being open and honest.
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Police Merger Rolls in Bay City, Slowed in Harper Woods
Fightin’ words to a fireman? “If you have a bunch of firefighters sitting around and you put some in police cars, you now have more police” and can still put out fires.” — MSU crim. justice professor It’s not often when a mayor and city council accuse their firefighters of lying — and the accused accuse them back. READ MORE
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Police Battle the State of Nevada Over Pay for Union Activities
Las Vegas, NV — An interesting battle is heating up on the Nevada Labor Law front that has flown under the radar, but is nonetheless compelling when one looks at the relationship between tax dollars, public servants and unions.
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